Phanar hierarch invites Georgian patriarch to Constantinople

Patriarch Shio III meets Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon. Photo: Georgian Church

Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III of All Georgia received Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, a hierarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, in Tbilisi. During the meeting, the hierarchs discussed bilateral relations between the Georgian and Constantinople Churches, UOJ in Georgia reports.

During his visit to the Georgian Patriarchate, Metropolitan Emmanuel conveyed fraternal greetings from Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople to the newly elected Primate of the Georgian Church. The Phanar hierarch congratulated Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III on his enthronement and expressed deep gratitude for the warm welcome.

The main topic of the talks was the future development of bilateral relations between the Georgian and Constantinople Churches. An important part of the meeting was also devoted to the upcoming visit of Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III of All Georgia to Constantinople. The Phanar expects the Georgian Primate to visit in the near future.

The participants also recalled the funeral of the previous Primate, Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, and Patriarch Bartholomew’s visit to Georgia. Patriarch Shio III again expressed gratitude to the Ecumenical Patriarch for his love and condolences and thanked him for the warm message sent on the day of his own enthronement.

The Georgian delegation at the meeting included Metropolitan Theodore of Akhaltsikhe and Tao-Klarjeti, Metropolitan Saba of Khoni and Samtredia, Metropolitan Gerasime of Zugdidi and Tsaishi, Protopresbyter Giorgi Zviadadze, Metropolitan Andria of Gori and Ateni, Archpriest Andria Jagmaidze, head of the Patriarchate’s public relations service, Archpriest Mikheil Botkoveli, secretary to the Patriarch, and Archpriest Archil Kachidze, deputy head of the Department for External Relations.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Vučić had discussed the spiritual ties between the peoples of Serbia and Georgia with Patriarch Shio.

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